Process of and apparatus for producing pressed railway-car axles and similar forgings



D 1 F. LUTZENKIRCHEN 3 ,5 3? PROCESS :OF' AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PRESSED RAILWAY CAR AXLES AND SIMILAR FORGINGS Filed NOV. 5, 1926' .2222} Z ifgew/hQa/ZEW' I 22! I b Patented Dec. 10, 1929 m UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRITZ Ll TZENKIRCHEN, OF HATTINGEN-RUHR, GERMANY PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING- PRESSED RAILWAY-CAR AXLEB AND SIMILAR FORGINGS Application filed November 5, 1926, Serial No. 146,415, and in Germany November 9, 1925.

sections. The principal aim of this invention is to produce said forgings in their final shape in only two pressing operations, whereby process and apparatus employed differ in every respect from the methods and means hitherto employed in the manufacture of such stock. During the first pressing operation the raw block of metal, called the blank, is transformed into a flat slab, which stillin the same heat is placed on edge in the bottom die and during the second pressing operation is transformed therein by the aid of the top die into a forging. of the desired final shape, whereby the ductility of the metal is utilized.

In the accompanying drawing an apparatus adapted to practically demonstrate the'principal phases of the process is shown by way of example, wherein:

- F'gure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus with lowered top die.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus with the top die in the same position.

Figure 3 is another side elevation of the apparatus wherein the top die is shownin a raised position.

Figure at is a plan view of the apparatus with a blank placed on the bottom die.

Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are details of construction "on a larger scale.

i The apparatus shown in a press provided with a base or foundation 1 provided with a plurality of guide columns 2 secured to said base by means of nuts 3 placed in suitable recesses 4. On the upper end of said columns 2only shown in part' a power-actuated cross-head 5 is 'slidingly arranged and carries one saddle 6 with a horizontal bottom face 7 and another saddle 8 provided with an inclined bottom face 9. Both saddles are secured to saidcross-head by a dove-tail shaped member 10 held in place by a wedge 10', as shown in Figures 1 and 3. This cross-head 5 maygbe operated in any suitable manner, of

which one is illustrated for the sake of clearness and brevity.

Between the base 1 and said cross-head 5 brackets 11 and 12 are adjustably securedto one pair of said columns 2 and carry between them a pivot-shaft 13 provided with an annular distance-screw 14 on which is arranged a nut 15. By means of these adjustable elements the die-holder 16 pivoted to said shaft 13 is retained in its proper place. A top die 17 provided with a concave working face is combined with the die-holder 16 and is secured thereto by a dove-tail shaped head 17' seated in a groove 16 closed near the free end of the die-holder 16. Pivoted to the holder 16 is a hook-shaped pawl 18 adapted to rest ona stud 19 of said die-holder when the latter is in its bottom position, Figure 1, and

also adapted to be pushed over a stud 20 of the cross-head 5 when the die-holder and the top die are to be raised on the up-stroke of the cross-head.

The bottom die 21 consists of the two parts 22 and 22' joined along a broken line 23 and held in place in the face of the base 1 by a tongue and groove joint 24 and a key 25 guided in the base 1 by a tongue 26 and in the part 22 of the bottom die by a tongue27. Besides this both parts of the bottom die are held together at the joint 23 bya key 28 of I-shaped cross-section, as plainly shown in Figure 2. If deemed necessary a key, or clamp, of this kind may be arranged on both sides of the bottom die in order to assure a solid connection of both parts thereof. The provision of a plurality of lateral keys is generally advisable by bottom dies of larger sizes. The arrangement of keys shown in Figure 2 not only makes -it possible .to build process outlined in the foregoing operates as follows :-The raw block of metal or blank 29 is placed on the part 22 of the bottom die and then thecross-head 5 is lowered until the saddle 6 has transformed s'aid blank into a fiat slab 30 of a thickness which approximates that of the forging'to be produced. It is advisable to retain the die-holder 16 and the top die 17 duringxthis down-stroke of the cross-head 5 in theirkbottomposition, because in doing so all the scale and slag detached during the first pressure operation from the incandescent blank is thus excluded from the bottom die. After the scale and slag has been blown away the pawl 18 is hooked on the stud 20 to raise the die holder and the top die durin the following up-stroke of the cross-head. it the finish of this up-stroke said flat slab, still in a high state of incandescence, is introduced on edge into the bottom die kept free from any scale and slag detached from the blank during the first pressing operation.

On the second down-stroke of the crosshead 5 the saddle 8 slides with its bottom face '9 along the back of the die-holder 16 and depresses the latter. During this downward motion the angular heel 31 of the top die 17,

which practically remains permanently at a certain depth in the bottom die 21, is brought into contact with the elevated edge of the slab 30 and while said heel executes its compulsory motion in the bottom die it describes an arc of a circle. In doing so the angular heel 31 initiates the flow, of the metal and continues and hastens this important action the deeper said angular heel is driven into this slab 30 by the gradually descending cross-head 5, which is set at rest'at the moment when the bottom face of the die-holder 16 is brought into contact with the top face of the bottom die 21. During the uninterruptedly changing positions of the top die the slab 30 is gradually transformed into the required shape of the forging F, whereby the material of the slab is spread longitudinally in opposite directions on account of the ductility of the metal and the shearing action of the top die 16, as indicated by the arrows shown in Figure 3.

The pressure exerted in the bottom die during the forging of'the axle tends to open this die'transversely of the axle. This tendency is neutralized by means of the two lateral wings 1 of the base 1, which wings are dimensioned to safely take up the lateral thrusts of the forged material. The formation of a scam on the forging is effectively prevented by the lateral key, or keys, 28 which keep the joint 23 not only always firmly closed, but also keep the top of the two parts of the bottom die on the same level to enable the holder 16 of the top die to seat itself evenly and simultaneously on both members of the bottom'die, a proceeding of no small importance in connection with the production of fq rgings required to show in all of its parts the prescribed shape and dimension.

For the sake of simplicity the forging shown in the drawing is of simple cylindrical shape, but it is clear that forgings of any other formations may be produced in this press, when the Working faces of both dies are formed to suit the particulars of such forgmgs. 4

The process of forging described above can be performed in conformance with my pres ent invention with a press of any kind, as for instance a hydraulic press, a cam press, an eccentric press or the like. This process may also be used in conjunction-with a rolling mill, whereby the rolled slabs are continuously suppliedto the press, instead of pro-,

ducing them in the press by a preliminary pressing operation.

I claim I 1. An apparatus for producing pressed railway car axles and similar forgings, comprising a stationary base, a bottom die removably seated in the face of said base, a plurality of columns secured to said base, a. pivotshaft horizontally supported onsaid columns, a top die placed on said shaft to swing in a vertical plane, and power-actuated means slidingly arranged on said columns and adapted to drive said top die into said bottom die and cause it to move therein downwardly on an arc of a circle. I

2. An apparatus for producing pressed railway car axles and similar forgings, consistin of a stationary base, a bottom die removal ly seated in the face of said base, means for rigidly combining said bottom die with said base, a plurality of columns securedto said base, brackets on said columns, a pivotshaft carried horizontally by said brackets,

a top die, a die-holder pivotally carried by said shaft and adapted to hold said top die in a groove without longitudinal play, a crosshead slidingly seated on said columns, and means carried by said cross-head and adapted to push the top die into said bottom die until said die-holder contacts with the top of said bottom die at'the close of the downstroke of said cross-head.

-3. An apparatus for producing pressed railway car axles and similar forgings, comprising a stationary base, a two-parted bottom die removably seated in the face of said base, means for keeping the two parts of the bottom die firmly closed at their joint, means for securing said two-parted bottom die in a predeterminated position in the face of said base, guide-columns carried by said base, brackets adjustably mounted on said columns, a pivot-shaft held horizontally by said brackets, a die-holder pivoted to said shaft, a top die secured to said die-holder bya head seat-.

ed without longitudinal play in a bottom-recess of said die-holder, a cross-head slidingly arranged on said guide-columns, means on said cross-head for forcing said die-holder and the top die carried thereby downward during the down-stroke of said cross-head, and a link hinged to said die-holder and adapted to connect the latter temporarily with said cross-head.

4. An apparatus for producing pressed railway car axles and similar forgings, comprising a frame, a bottom die in the frame, a top die pivoted to the frame at one side of the bottom die for swinging movement into an upward tilted position and a downward horizontal working position, reciprocating means above the top die adapted upon its downward movement to engage said top dieand force the same into cooperation with the bottom die, and'detachable means adapted to connect the top die with the reciprocatin means for lifting the top die to the upwar tilted position.

5. An apparatus for producing pressed railway car axles and similar forgings, comprising a frame composed of a base and a plurality of columns, a bottom die in the base,

i a top die pivoted to the columns at one side of the bottom die for swinging movement into an upward tilted position and a downward horizontal working position, reciprocating means mounted on the columns above the top die adapted upon its downward movement to engage said top die and force the same into cooperation with the bottom die, and detachable means adapted to connect the top die with the reciprocating means for lifting the top die to the upward tilted position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. FRITZ LUTZENKIRCHEN. 

